What is typically performed in a buffer room?

The buffer room is a critical area in sterile compounding facilities, designed specifically for preparing compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) while controlling environmental conditions to minimize the risk of contamination. This environment must meet specific cleanliness and air quality standards, which is why it is often maintained at an ISO class 5 level.

An ISO class 5 environment restricts the number of allowable particles in the air to ensure that the risk of introducing contaminants into sterile preparations is minimized. Inside the buffer room, the compounding of sterile products is conducted under laminar flow hoods or clean benches, which provide unidirectional airflow to further protect the materials being compounded.

While cleaning procedures and inventory management are essential aspects of overall sterile compounding practice, they occur in different contexts or areas of the facility, rather than being the primary functions of the buffer room. Similarly, while compounded sterile preparations may be stored in designated areas, the buffer room itself is primarily focused on the compounding process, rather than on storage.